Groundhog Day

Somebody asked me:

"Phil, if you could be anywhere, where would you be?"

I said to him, "Probably right here...

...Elko, Nevada." Our nation's high at 79 today.

In California, they'll have warm weather tomorrow...

...gang wars and some overpriced real estate.

In the Pacific Northwest, they'll have some...

...very, very tall trees.

Clear across the Rockies and Great Plains.

But look out, here comes trouble.

Oh, boy!

Front coming our way! Look out!

What will that mean to us? One of these big, blue things!

This cold, frigid arctic air, this big mass out of the north.

It'll meet up with all this moisture out of the Gulf.

They'll mix at high altitudes and cause snow.

Going out on a limb:

Not gonna hit us here in Pittsburgh. Gonna push off and hit Altoona.

Close call!

Let's look at the five-day.

As you can see, nothing to be too scared about.

Bundle up warm, but you can leave your galoshes at home.

I won't be here for the 1 0:00. Tomorrow's Groundhog Day.

I'll be in Punxsutawney for our country's oldest groundhog festival.

According to the legend, tomorrow, February 2nd...

...if the groundhog wakes and sees his shadow...

...we've got six more weeks of winter. So cross your fingers.

Sounds like fun.

You must really enjoy it. This is your third year in a row.

Four, Nan.

Four.

Thanks, Phil.

Next, our entertainment editor looks at sex and violence in movies.

Stay with us.

We're clear.

Have fun in Punxsutawney.

For your information, Hairdo, a major network is interested in me.

That would be the Home Shopping Network.

Thanks, Larry. Go wait in the van.

That was nice, Phil. "Big trees"!

Stop, Kenny. Look, can you handle the 1 0 or not?

Yeah, yeah.

If you don't want to rush back, I can do the 5 tomorrow.

Stay an extra second in Punxsutawney? Please!

Rita thinks it'd be a great idea...

...to stay for other events. You'll get incredible footage.

The people and the fun. The excitement!

You haven't worked with her yet. She's really nice.

I think she'll be a really good producer.

You guys are going to have fun.

She's fun. But not my kind of fun. I will be here for the 5.

Rita.

Can you keep a secret, Larry?

I'm probably leaving PBH.

So this will be the last time...

...we do the Groundhog together.

What's wrong with the Groundhog Festival?

In San Diego...

...l covered the swallows returning to Capistrano for six years.

Someone will see me interview a groundhog, think I have no future.

I think it's a nice story.

He comes out. He looks around.

He wrinkles up his nose.

He sees his shadow or not. It's nice! People like it!

You are new, aren't you?

People like blood sausage too.

People are morons!

Nice attitude.

Look in the mirror and see how you look when you do that groundhog thing.

For me? Once?

He comes out, and there he looks at his little shadow.

Want some blood sausage? I have some--

I like blood sausage.

Rita, l can't stay here.

Prima donna.

-What's the matter? -l hate this place.

I stayed here two years ago. I was miserable.

-l won't stay here. -You're not staying here.

-l'm not? -No.

Larry's dropping me off.

I booked you in a nice bed-and-breakfast.

Great.

I think this is one of the traits of a good producer.

Keep the talent happy.

Anything I can do.

Would you help me with my pelvic tilt?

Within reason. Want to come to dinner with Larry and me?

No, thank you. I've seen Larry eat.

You get your sleep. See you in the morning.

Don't be late.

Did he actually call himself "the talent"?

Campers, rise and shine! Don't forget your booties.

-It's cold out there! -It's cold every day!

-Is this Miami Beach? -Not hardly!

Expect hazardous travel later today with...

...that blizzard thing.

That blizzard thing. Here's the report.

The National Weather Service is calling for a big blizzard thing.

There's another reason today's especially exciting--

Especially cold.

The big question on everybody's lips--

-Their chapped lips. -On their chapped lips.

Will Phil come out and see his shadow?

-Punxsutawney Phil! -That's right, woodchuck chuckers!

It's Groundhog Day!

Get up and check that hog out there!

-Morning! -Morning.

-Off to see the groundhog? -l am.

Think it'll be an early spring?

I'm predicting March 21st.

Good guess!

I think that actually is the first day of spring.

-Did you sleep well, Mr. Connors? -l slept alone, Mrs. Lancaster.

Like some coffee?

Is there any possibility of getting an espresso or cappuccino?

I really don't know....

How to spell espresso or cappuccino. This looks fine.

I hope you enjoy the festivities.

-l'm sure l will. -There's talk of a blizzard.

We may catch a break and it will blow right by.

The moisture coming out of the south...

...by midday will push on to the east.

At high altitudes it'll crystallize and give us what we call snow.

Our high will get to about 30 today, teens tonight.

Chance of precipitation, about 20 percent today, 20 percent tomorrow.

Did you want to talk about the weather or just chitchat?

Chitchat.

See you later.

Will you be checking out today?

Chance of departure today, 1 00 percent.

Phil? Hey, Phil?

Phil? Phil Connors! I thought that was you!

How you doing? Thanks for watching.

Don't tell me you don't remember me. I sure as heckfire remember you.

Not a chance.

Ned!

Ryerson!

Needlenose Ned. Ned the Head.

Come on, buddy. Case Western High!

I did the whistling bellybutton trick at the talent show.

Bing! Got the shingles real bad senior year. Almost didn't graduate.

Bing again!

I dated your sister a couple times till you told me not to anymore.

Well?

-Ned Ryerson? -Bing!

Bing.

Did you turn pro with that bellybutton thing?

I sell insurance.

-What a shock. -Do you have insurance?

If you do, you could always use more.

Am l right or am l right or am l right?

Ned, I would love to stand here and talk with you.

But l'm not going to.

See you.

That's all right! I'll walk with you.

I see an opportunity, I charge it like a bull.

Ned the Bull, that's me now.

I got friends who live and die by the actuarial tables.

I say it's all one big crapshoot anyhoo.

Ever heard of single-premium life? That could be the ticket for you.

Oh, God!

It is so good to see you! What are you doing for dinner?

Something else.

It's been great seeing you, Needlehead. Take care.

Watch out for that first step. It's a doozy!

Phil!

Phil, over here!

Where have you been?

It was horrible.

A giant leech got me.

You're missing all the fun. These people are great!

Some of them partied all night. They sing till they get cold.

Then they go sit by the fire and get warm.

Then they come back and sing some more!

Yeah. They're hicks, Rita.

So, did you sleep okay without me?

You tossed and turned, didn't you?

You're incredible.

Who told you?

It's groundhog time.

Okay. On me in three...

...two, one.

Once a year, the eyes of the nation turn to this tiny hamlet...

...to watch a master at work.

The master?

Punxsutawney Phil...

...the world's most famous weatherman. The groundhog.

Who, as legend has it, can predict an early spring.

The question we have to ask ourselves is:

"Does Phil feel lucky?"

Every year, the guy comes with a big stick and raps on the door.

They pull the little rat out, talk to him.

The rat talks back. Then they tell us what's gonna happen.

Isn't he cute?

Do you like the guys with the prominent upper teeth?

No.

This February 2nd, at 7:20 and 30 seconds...

...Punxsutawney Phil...

...the seer of seers...

...prognosticator of prognosticators...